Sunlight

As sunlight passes through a building's windows it can cause indoor temperatures to rise, to the point that the structure's air conditioning system has to be used. A new window material, however, blocks incoming heat while staying mostly transparent.

Virtually any camper will provide a tabletop on which to plant a laptop, but Sunlight takes the mobile office a step further, demonstrating how a dining table-cum-desk can support everything from basic office work to scientific fieldwork.

Ironically, many of the places that most require water purification have the least-developed infrastructure. That's where a new filtration device comes in, as it's activated by the sun – and it works relatively quickly.

If you worked in a dingy, windowless environment, it would be nice (and energy-efficient) if you could get natural daylight "piped in" from outside. An experimental device does exactly that, in a new compact and robust form.

Researchers have developed a new white paint that can reflect over 95 percent of sunlight, which can cool the surface even lower than the ambient temperature. Painted on a building, the new paint could help cut cooling costs and energy use.

Even though we're warned about the harmful effects of ultraviolet (UV) rays in sunlight, they're essential for the production of vitamin D in the body. Now, scientists are claiming that UV LEDs could serve as a safe alternative to sunlight.

By converting liquid salt water – or tainted water – into steam, it's possible to obtain pure, clean drinking water. Doing so could soon be cheaper and easier than ever, thanks to a newly developed material.

New research has for the first time demonstrated how exposure to Narrow Band Ultraviolet B light (UVB) can directly influence gut microbiome diversity in humans. The research hypothesizes this result is modulated by vitamin D.

​Back in 2014, MIT scientists developed a graphite/carbon "sponge" which used sunlight to convert water into steam. They've now improved on the design, creating a device that produces super-heated steam. It could be used in remote regions to sterilize medical equipment, among other applications.

​While we all appreciate the importance of limiting our exposure to the sun's ultraviolet rays, actually keeping track of the amount can be difficult. L'Oréal's new My Skin Track UV is designed to help. It's described as "the first battery-free wearable electronic to measure UV exposure."

​While exposure to SOME sunlight is necessary, we all know that getting too much is not a good idea – among other things, it can cause sunburn, skin cancer and premature aging of the skin. With that in mind, a new paper wristband has been designed to let us know when to seek the shade.

Access to clean water is one of the world's most pressing problems, but a team of University at Buffalo researchers has come up with a new take on an old technology that uses sunlight to purify water with what is claimed to be near-perfect efficiency.